The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-13
GEN. HARRISON AND LABOR.
What the Senator Has Done in Wash
ingtOn for the Cause of Labor.
Knights of Labor, and Has Advocated
Measures that Interest Workingmen.
Special TO the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The flash into the
senatorial arena at Indianapolis by Dir. Bynum,
on the strength of the support of the laboring
men. has created great surprise in Washing
ton, and to-day the Journal correspondent
made diligent inquiry among the leading labor
advocates Of the House and in the room of the
committee labor for the purpose OF ascer-
tanning what, If anything, Mr.. Bynum has
done for that class whose support he now So
lcits; but failed to find anything to his credit
The Congressional Record. the records at the
Speakers desk and the docket of the committee
on labor contain no record showing that Mr..
Bynum has ever done anything for labor in1i-
viduallv or collectively while he has been
member of Congress-; nor could the clerks
who have charge of petitions, memorials. etc.,
introduced by members find single petition or
memorial on the subject introduced by him.
During the last session of Congress quite num-
Der of bills were introduced in the house. and
about two dozen meetings of the committee on
labor were held for the purpose of considering
these measures, and q large proportion of the
men who have been leading advocates for the
Knights of Labor and tradesrnions addressed
the committee in faver Of the various measures
under consideration: but the journal Of the
committee does not disclose the presence Of Mr..
Bynum at any of the meetings held, either reg
ular or special since he has been member of
Congress. No member Of the House interested
in the success of any OF these meas
ures, that interviewed by the
Journal correspondent to-day, had ever been
approached by Mr.. Bynum in behalf of labor.
No one recollects of his ever speaking the
floor Of the House or elsewhere for the purpose
of promoting any interest of the laboring men.
Two or three bills we're passed at the last ses-
sion in the interest of Knights Of Labor or
trades unions, one of which created good deal
of debate, running over TWO or three days.
majority Of the members of the committee on
labor participated in this debate but the Con-
gressionai Record does rot contain the name of
Mr.. Bynum rs participant.
A member Of the House committee on labor
who has at various times talked to almost every
member of the House the subject of labor
said, this afternoon, that he could not conceive
any real claim that Mr.. Bynum could make,
8 nce he has been in Congress. for the support
Of the laboring men, either at the polls or in his
aspirations to succeed Senator Harrison. He
had never suspected that Mr. Bynum was in the
least degree anxious to promote the interest of
the laboring man, and was amazed that he
should make any such claim, or that any of his
friends should make the claim for him.
By reference to the Congressional Record and
the jour nails for the Fortynint Congress the
oe NJ 10 40 tno
as a champion of the labor measure pending
during the first session. Mr.. Bynum is recorded
as voting tor but one bil-for the House bill
NO. 7470) to provide for the speedy settlement
of controversies and differences bstween COM
mon carriers engaged in Interstate and terrific
rial transportation Of property passengers
aud their employees. which passed the House on
April 3, 1885, If this one vote was eliminated
no one could tell from the Record but what Mr..
BynAm was opposed to all labor legislation, and
that vote is of no consequence as there were
but 20 nays to 100 yeas.
When this bill went to the Senate its consider
alton was objected to-twice by Democrats
Harris and Gorman) and once By Republican
(Ingallsl. causing it to go over till the session
closed. On the contrary. the record OF Senator
Harrison lie one showing how fully he has been
devoted to the interests of labor during his term
| as Senator. Here is that at hand, taken from
the Congressional Record:
March g. 1886-Mr. Harrison said: IT present
| resolution adopted by the Fair Play Assembly
| of Knights of Labor of Goshen Ind, not form
| ally addressed to the Senate, but evidently in
tended for its consideration, in relation to Chi
nese immigration and other bills pending in Con
gress affecting the laboring classes I ask that
| the paper be received ard referred to the commit
tee on foreign relations. Rec. p. 2168.
March 81 1856 Harrison presented 3
memorial Of Knights of Labor of Wabash Ind
demonstrating against the passage of the free
| ship bill: which was referred to the committee
| Oh commerce.-Rec. p. 1900.
April !, 1886.-Mr Harrison presented me-
mortal of Knights Of Labor Of Andrews Ind. re-
moustrating against the passage of the free-ship
| bill, which was referred to the committee on
| commerce, and said: 81 present certain resolu
tions certified by the recording secretary and
under the seal Of the assembly Of Wabash AS
sembly. No. 22Sl, of the knights of Labor, OF
| Terre Haute, Ind. praying Congress to pass
| law prohibiting aliens or their agents from Sc
curing vast tracts Of the public domain. I be
| lieve this subject is under consideration bv the
| committee public lands at this time and
will ask the reference of the resolutions to thai
| committee"
| Mr.. Dolph--A bill on the subject has been re-
| ported.
Mr.. Harrison-I advised by tho Senate,
from Oregon that the bill has been reported
ask leave to say at this time that know of few
measures of greater Importance than this l no
ticed recently in one of the Chicago papers the
results Of some inquiry upon this subject, and
it seemed to indicate that vast tracts Of
| our domain, not simply the public domain on
the frontier but in some of our newer States
are passing into the hands of wealthy foreigners
1t seems that the land reforms in Ireland. aut
the movement IN England in favor of the re
| ductlon of large estates and the distribution O.
| the lands among persons who will cultivate then
| for their own use are disturbing the investments
Of some Englshmen, and that some of them ar,